Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union
Encyclopedia
The Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union was an Australian trade union
that covered "mostly work associated with chipping, painting, scrubbing, cleaning, working in every size of tanks, cleaning boilers, docking and undocking vessels, and rigging work" http://www.takver.com/history/myunion/myunion01.htm. Originally established as the Balmain Labourers Union, the union changed its name to the Ship Painters and Dockers Union in August 1900.
The union federated with branches in other states from its beginnings in Sydney and improved conditions on the wharves. Later on in the 1960s and 1970s the union was alleged to have criminal connections.
In 1980 the union was subject to the Costigan Commission
(officially entitled the Royal Commission on the activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union), enquiring into its involvement with organised crime and tax evasion. This Commission became famous because its investigations led to the airing of allegations of tax evasion and drug trafficking against Kerry Packer
, then Australia's richest man.
The union was de-registered in 1993. Despite widespread allegations of criminality, the reason the union was de-registered was because it had less than 1,000 members. After the Industrial Relations Act 1988 was passed by the Hawke
Government
unions with less than 1,000 members had to show why, in the public interest, their existence should continue. Whilst the Dockers opposed the de-registration on principle it could not advance an argument to continue its existence, taking the Act into account. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/IRCommA/1993/1507.html Before de-registration members of the Dockers had been transferred to what are now the Maritime Union of Australia
and the AMWU.
Several prominent former members were involved in the Melbourne gangland killings
. Lewis Moran
and Graham Kinniburgh
were both former members and met on the Melbourne waterfront
. Five persons who were members or associated with the Union were connected with the attempted robbery of Trans Australia Airlines Flight 454
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
that covered "mostly work associated with chipping, painting, scrubbing, cleaning, working in every size of tanks, cleaning boilers, docking and undocking vessels, and rigging work" http://www.takver.com/history/myunion/myunion01.htm. Originally established as the Balmain Labourers Union, the union changed its name to the Ship Painters and Dockers Union in August 1900.
The union federated with branches in other states from its beginnings in Sydney and improved conditions on the wharves. Later on in the 1960s and 1970s the union was alleged to have criminal connections.
In 1980 the union was subject to the Costigan Commission
Costigan Commission
The Costigan Commission was a controversial Australian royal commission....
(officially entitled the Royal Commission on the activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union), enquiring into its involvement with organised crime and tax evasion. This Commission became famous because its investigations led to the airing of allegations of tax evasion and drug trafficking against Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
, then Australia's richest man.
The union was de-registered in 1993. Despite widespread allegations of criminality, the reason the union was de-registered was because it had less than 1,000 members. After the Industrial Relations Act 1988 was passed by the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
Government
Third Hawke Ministry
The Third Hawke Ministry was the fifty-seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and held office from 24 July 1987 to 4 April 1990.Australian Labor Party-Cabinet:*Hon Bob Hawke, AC MP: Prime Minister...
unions with less than 1,000 members had to show why, in the public interest, their existence should continue. Whilst the Dockers opposed the de-registration on principle it could not advance an argument to continue its existence, taking the Act into account. http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/IRCommA/1993/1507.html Before de-registration members of the Dockers had been transferred to what are now the Maritime Union of Australia
Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
and the AMWU.
Several prominent former members were involved in the Melbourne gangland killings
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
. Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran was an Australian organized crime figure and patriarch of the infamous Moran family of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Notable for his involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings, Moran was shot dead in a Melbourne hotel The Brunswick Club in 2004...
and Graham Kinniburgh
Graham Kinniburgh
Graham 'The Munster' Allen Kinniburgh was an Australian organised crime figure from Kew, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia...
were both former members and met on the Melbourne waterfront
Port of Melbourne
The Port of Melbourne is Australia's busiest port for containerised and general cargo. It is located in Melbourne, Victoria and covers an area at the mouth of the Yarra River, downstream of Bolte Bridge, which is at the head of Port Phillip, as well as several piers on the bay itself...
. Five persons who were members or associated with the Union were connected with the attempted robbery of Trans Australia Airlines Flight 454
Trans Australia Airlines Flight 454
On 21 September 1982 five men were arrested by Queensland Police after a daring $600,000 robbery attempt at four Queensland airports. The men, all from Melbourne, were associates or close to the Painters and Dockers' Union...
.
See also
- Costigan CommissionCostigan CommissionThe Costigan Commission was a controversial Australian royal commission....
- Bottom of the harbour tax avoidanceBottom of the harbour tax avoidanceBottom of the harbour tax avoidance was a form of tax avoidance used in Australia in the 1970s. Legislation made it a criminal offence in 1980...
External links
- The Ship Painters and Dockers Award 1969 - the Federal AwardAward (Australian industrial relations)An award is a ruling handed down by either Fair Work Australia or by a state industrial relations commission which grants all wage earners in one industry the same conditions of employment and wages....
of the Union - My Union Right or Wrong. A history of the Ship Painters and Dockers Union 1900-1932 By Issy Wyner (2003)